Toy simulating gymnastic events

ABSTRACT

A toy for simulating gymnastics events comprising a flat base; parallel, spaced vertical members extending upwardly from said base near one end thereof; a platform pivotally mounted between said upwardly-extending members near the upper portions thereof and movable between vertical and horizontal positions; a dolllike figure placed on said platform when said platform is on a horizontal position and which is launchable downwardly from said platform when said platform is moved from its horizontal position to its vertical position to permit said doll-like figure to drop from said platform downwardly toward said base; a trampoline below and in vertical spaced alignment with that end of said platform on which said doll-like figure is placed, said trampoline being inclined downwardly toward said base with its lower edge below its upper edge, the arrangement being such that when said doll-like figure is launched from said platform it drops onto said inclined trampoline and is projected by and from said trampoline toward that end of said base opposite the end at which said parallel, spaced vertical members are mounted; and means at said opposite end for receiving and retaining said dolllike figure when it is projected by and from said trampoline.

United States Patent [1 1 Serman, Jr.

[ 1 Oct. 8, 1974 TOY SIMULATING GYMNASTIC EVENTS Edward G. Serman, Jr.,Millsboro, Del.

[73] Assignee: Raymond Lee Organization, Inc.,

New York, NY.

[22] Filed: Feb. 1, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 328,524

[75] Inventor:

3,613,300 10/1971 Seguin et al. 46/131 Primary Examiner-Louis G. ManceneAssistant Examiner-Robert F. Cutting [57] ABSTRACT A toy for simulatinggymnastics events comprising a flat base; parallel, spaced verticalmembers extending upwardly from said base near one end thereof; aplatform pivotally mounted between said upwardlyextending members nearthe upper portions thereof and movable between vertical and horizontalpositions; a doll-like figure placed on said platform when said platformis on a horizontal position and which is launchable downwardly from saidplatform when said platform is moved from its horizontal position to itsvertical position to permit said doll-like figure to drop from saidplatform downwardly toward said base; a trampoline below and in verticalspaced alignment with that end of said platform on which said doll-likefigure is placed, said trampoline being inclined downwardly toward saidbase with its lower edge below its upper edge, the arrangement beingsuch that when said doll-like figure is launched from said platform itdrops onto said inclined trampoline and is projected by and from saidtrampoline toward that end of said base opposite the end at which saidparallel, spaced vertical members are mounted; and means at saidopposite end for receiving and retaining said doll-lilce-figure when itis projected by and from said trampoline.

1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures TOY SIMULATING GYMNASTIC EVENTS SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION A toy using one or more figures launched downward bygravity from a pivotable platform and using a trampoline, which projectssaid figure toward and into contact with a swing, ladder, see saw andthe like whereby selected gymnastic events can be simulated without useof special mechanisms or complex manual manipulation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of one form of my invention in which the dollperforms a complete flip and ends in standing position;

FIG. 2 is a detail of a portion of the structure of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an elevation of a modification in which the doll hands engagea bar after dropping onto a trampoline;

FIG. 4 is an elevation of another modification in which the doll landsin seated position;

FIG. 5 is an elevation of a further modification in which two dolls areused;

FIG. 5a is a detail of the structure of FIG. 5; and- FIG. 6 is anelevation of yet a further modification in which two dolls are used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIGS. 1and 2, a doll or other figure 10 in almost sitting position has Velcrotype loops 12 on feet and on seat. A platform 14 pivotable betweenvertical and horizontal positions about transverse horizontal bar 16supported at selected height by engaging aligned holes 18 in parallelvertical bars 20 is disposable above downwardly inclined trampoline 22.The trampoline inclines downwardly from the bars on base 50. The figurewith feet on the platform (held horizontal) faces forward.

When the platform is released, the weight of the figure swings theplatform counterclockwise whereby the figure falls, landing on thetrampoline and springing up, doing a complete flip and landing uprighton square 24. Square 24 has mating Velcro type rug like material 26.

When the feet engage the square 24, the figure is held 2 upright.

In FIG. 3, the figure does a half flip and its arms which have hook-likeend portions, engage a horizontal bar of a vertical ladder likestructure 28.

In FIG. 4, the figure is launched backward, does a complete flip andlands in chair 30 on platform 32. The seat of the chair 30 has material26 engaged by loops 12 on the seat of the FIG. 10.

In FIGS. 5 and 5A, an auxiliary figure 10A having its arms over head isswung pivotably by swing 34 connected by cord 36 to support 38. The mainfigure 10 is launched as in FIG. 1 and the arms of FIG. 10 engage thefeet of FIG. 10A.

In FIG. 6, a seesaw 40 at two different levels cooperates with twofigures 10, pivotable platform 14 and fixed platform 42 to produce themovements shown.

While I have described my invention with particular reference to thedrawings, such is not to be considered as limiting its actual scope.

Having thus described this invention, what is asserted as new is:

1. A toy for simulating gymnastic events comprising a flat base; spaced,parallel members extending upwardly from said base near one end thereof;a platform pivotally mounted between said spaced, parallel members nearthe upper end portions thereof and movable between horizontal andvertical positions and adapted to receive thereon when in its horizontalposition a doll-like figure simulating an acrobat, which figure whenplaced upon said platform is launchable downwardly from said platformwhen said platform is moved from horizontal to a substantially verticalposition; a trampoline spaced from and directly below said end of saidplatform on which said doll-like figure is placed and which trampolinereceives said doll-like figure from said platform when said platform ismoved to a substantially vertical position, said doll-like figure beingprojected by and from said trampoline toward said opposite end of saidbase, said doll-like figure being provided with a Velcro type fasteneron the lower portion thereof, and wherein said base is provided nearsaid opposite end thereof with a mating Velcro type fastener whichcooperates with the Velcro-type fastener on the doll-like figure whensaid figure lands on said Velcro typefastener on said base to retainsaid fig-

1. A toy for simulating gymnastic events comprising a flat base; spaced,parallel members extending upwardly from said base near one end thereof;a platform pivotally mounted between said spaced, parallel members nearthe upper end portions thereof and movable between horizontal andvertical positions and adapted to receive thereon when in its horizontalposition a doll-like figure simulating an acrobat, which figure whenplaced upon said platform is launchable downwardly from said platformwhen said platform is moved from horizontal to a substantially verticalposition; a trampoline spaced from and directly below said end of saidplatform on which said doll-like figure is placed and which trampolinereceives said doll-like figure from said platform when said platform ismoved to a substantially vertical position, said doll-like figure beingprojected by and from said trampoline toward said opposite end of saidbase, said doll-like figure being provided with a Velcro type fasteneron the lower portion thereof, and wherein said base is provided nearsaid opposite end thereof with a mating Velcro type fastener whichcooperates with the Velcro type fastener on the doll-like figure whensaid figure lands on said Velcro type fastener on said base to retainsaid figure thereon.